Trucks lined up on two provincial roads
The collapse of Phong Chau bridge on September 9 has affected traffic in Tam Nong district in particular and Phu Tho province in general. With the inability to travel through Phong Chau pontoon bridge, to cross the river, all trucks carrying goods and passengers must go around Ngoc Thap bridge connecting Tam Nong district and Phu Tho town.
As for Ngoc Thap Bridge, a large bridge built with reinforced concrete and prestressed reinforced concrete structure, only 13 years old, it is still very sturdy, so the load pressure on this bridge is not worrisome.
However, vehicles from Ngoc Thap bridge traveling through the center of Ha Thach commune, Phu Tho town to Viet Tri city have caused traffic on provincial roads 320 and 325B to become crowded. Meanwhile, the two above-mentioned roads are narrow, degraded, and cannot meet current needs.
In early November, on provincial roads 320 and 325B, about 2km long, passing through the center of Ha Thach commune, reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper recorded many large trucks, tractors, and passenger cars moving one after another.
With the narrow road and densely populated roadsides, large trucks have to drive to the side of the road and move very slowly when avoiding each other. Smaller cars, motorbikes, and rudimentary vehicles also have difficulty passing... At some times and in some locations, traffic jams have occurred for a short time.
Mr. Vu Quang Dao, a resident of Ngoc Thap bridge resettlement area along provincial road 320 (Ha Thach commune) - said that since Phong Chau bridge collapsed, the number of vehicles traveling on the two provincial roads through the commune center has increased, traffic jams have occurred more often, most commonly in the evening, when workers of Phu Ha industrial park return home from work.
"What's more special is when waiting for the train, vehicles line up from the beginning of the railway to the intersection near Ngoc Thap bridge, mainly trucks and tractor-trailers. There is a new road connecting Ngoc Thap bridge to Ha Thach gas station to go to Viet Tri without going through the commune center, but for unknown reasons it is still blocked even though it was completed a long time ago" - Mr. Dao shared.
The 300 billion VND project road will reduce pressure on 2 provincial roads.
According to records, the road section mentioned above by the people belongs to the project to renovate and upgrade the road connecting Provincial Road 325B, connecting Ho Chi Minh Road to Ngoc Thap Bridge and the rescue route (the project has a total adjusted investment of 300 billion VND, invested by Phu Tho town).
This route is designed as a bypass of the densely populated central area of Ha Thach commune, about 1.2km long, with a wide road surface and especially does not go through densely populated areas. However, the route cannot help reduce the load on provincial roads 320 and 325B, which are currently congested with vehicles because they are blocked by hard barriers.
Speaking with Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Le Trung Ha - Director of Phu Tho Town Construction Investment Project Management Board (representing the investor) - informed that the section of the project to renovate and upgrade the road connecting Provincial Road 325B, connecting Ho Chi Minh Road to Ngoc Thap Bridge and the rescue route through Ha Thach Commune is still blocked by a hard barrier, the reason is because it has not been handed over and put into use.
"All items have been completed, it is expected that by January 2025, the above section and the remaining sections through Ha Thach commune will be handed over and put into use, helping to reduce traffic pressure on provincial roads 320 and 325B" - Mr. Ha shared.
